Odds slashed on SNP election success as polls hit Labour hopes

Bookmaker Coral has slashed the odds on the Scottish National Party winning the most seats in Scotland at May’s general election to 1-10 (from 4-7), after Lord Ashcroft revealed polls today that strongly suggested Labour would suffer heavy losses at the hands of Nicola Sturgeon’s party. Labour are out to 5-1 (from 5-4) to win most seats in Scotland, while Coral offer 20-1 that Jim Murphy’s party do not win any seats.

Coral are also betting on the number of seats the SNP will win, with 42 or more priced at 5-6, and the same odds about 41 or fewer, amended from 30 or more and 29 or fewer before publication of the Ashcroft polls.

As a result of the polls, Coral has also cut the odds on there being a hung parliament after the election to 1-4 (from 2-7), while the odds on Labour winning the most seats have been lengthened to 6-5 (from 11-10), with the Tories cut to 4-6 (from 4-5).

“The first general election since the referendum always promised to hold extra significance for Scottish voters, and the Ashcroft polls have seen a shake-up in the betting, with the SNP now red hot favourites to dominate at Labour’s expense, while the chances of a hung parliament have also increased as far as we’re concerned,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

“At this stage there is no clear indication as to what the make-up of the government will be post-election, but if these most recent polls do translate into Westminster seats for the SNP – and we have certainly increased their estimated number of seats – Nicola Sturgeon’s party are likely to be important players in any subsequent power-broking,” added Stevens.

**To win most seats in Scotland
1-10 SNP, 5-1 Labour 500-1 Any other party